Michael McElroy News

Deck the halls, trim the tree, and spin the dreidel. BroadwayWorld is continuing our tradition of celebrating the holiday season with a special countdown. This year we've invited Director of Programming at Feinstein's/54 Below and author of The Untold Stories of Broadway book series Jennifer Ashley Tepper to share her favorites holiday performances. Check back daily to get in the holiday spirit in time for December 25 and to find out what else made her list!

Ever wonder which Broadway tunes have inspired your favorite performers? Check back every Tuesday for ON RECORD- to find out which cast recordings have made an impact on Broadway's brightest stars. In this week's edition, we hear from Robin de Jesus, who is currently starring as 'Boq' in Wicked- playing at the Gershwin Theatre. Read on to find out his top five picks!

Michael McElroy and the Broadway Inspirational Voices (BIV) are welcomed back to First Corinthian Baptist Church for their holiday concert, HOW GREAT OUR JOY, on Monday December 14th at 7:00pm. The concert will feature music from their upcoming album Great Joy II: Around the World, with members from such shows as: HAMILTON, ON YOUR FEET!, THE LION KING, THE COLOR PURPLE, BOOK OF MORMON, FUN HOME, KINKY BOOTS and ALADDIN.

Michael McElroy and the Broadway Inspirational Voices (BIV) Releases holiday single as they launch their second phase of Kickstarter in preparation for their new upcoming album project Great Joy II: Around The World.

Michael McElroy and the Broadway Inspirational Voices (BIV) have announced they are having a holiday concert December 14th at Harlem's First Corinthian Baptist Church.

Parlor Night strikes again! Were you there for the latest Broadway pop-up party? This time, the intimate evening was hosted at the luscious Upper East Side townhouse of John Demsey (Group President of Estee Lauder). Demsey's home with its rich hues, magnificent art collection adorning the walls, and second floor living room was once home to Montgomery Clift in the early 1960s and was the hangout for luminaries such as Marilyn Monroe and Marlon Brando. So, it was only fitting that John's home embraced the second installment of Parlor Night to benefit Broadway Inspirational Voices Outreach Program.

September marks the launch of Broadway Inspirational Voices (BIV) new podcast series geared to highlight the amazing talent and voices that make up the incredible choir. The series start with none other than BIV's director and founder Michael McElroy. The podcast is hosted by Drama Desk winner, voiceover veteran and choir member Steve French.

'Theatre for the deaf? On Broadway?' It's a question that many theatre fans have asked since July 7, when official word came that Deaf West Theatre's production of Spring Awakening would land on Broadway this fall. The upcoming production, which will run September 8 through January 9 at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre, will sound the same to fans of the 2006 Tony-winning musical, but it will be performed simultaneously in American Sign Language by a cast of 27. Wait...what? That's right- this production, which marks the first Broadway revival of the show since it closed in 2009, comes complete with ASL, and though the concept seems revolutionary, this is far from the first time that it has been done (and has worked). Let's review:

A couple of weeks ago, Richard Jay-Alexander reported exclusively for BroadwayWorld.com on Michael McElroy, the Broadway Inspirational Voices and the launch of Parlor Night, which will soon be a regular event. 

The seventh annual National High School Musical Theatre Awards / Jimmy Awards were held tonight, June 29, 2015, at the Minskoff Theatre on Broadway. This one-of-a-kind-event was hosted by two-time Tony Award-winner Michael Cerveris, currently on Broadway in this year's Best Musical Fun Home at Circle in the Square.

Every night for the next three weeks Trista Dollison dons a nun's habit and lights up the stage of Brunswick's Maine State Music Theatre with her sassy, soulful, exuberant portrayal of Deloris Van Cartier in Sister Act - the cabaret singer who teaches the joy of music to a sleepy convent of Philadelphia nuns. It's a part she seems born to play and one which reflects her overall love of singing. 'It's a great role, hands down!' she enthuses in the last days of rehearsal before the June 25th opening. 'I had seen the show on Broadway twice and auditioned more than twice, so I am delighted to be here doing it now. It is one of those shows that rides on your back. She has such great songs and is in every scene. She is such a fierce and fabulous character! I love the fact that she starts off in a selfish world and evolves into being the hope for these sisters, and the sisters become the hope for her. The journey within the show is so beautiful: she realizes she is helping the nuns, and they realize they are helping her. She awakens something that is lost in the convent - a passion and joy.'

The Broadway Community worships at the altar of Michael McElroy and, pretty soon, so will the world. The Broadway veteran, with many shows under his belt, founded the Broadway Inspirational Voices in 1994 and, last night, photographer and friend Walter McBride and I were invited to a private home, where an awe-inspiring event transpired. We witnessed the birth of PARLOR NIGHT, something that ladies Di Ana Pisarri and Schele Williams had dreamed of for some time.

Michael Feinstein, Melissa Errico, Liz Callaway, The Skivvies, Michael McElroy, Lauren Worsham, Cyrille Aimee, Rachel York, Adam Kantor, Randy Graff, Kim David Smith, Danielle Grabianowski, Jonah Verdon, Julie Hill, Molly Pope, Josh Sharp, Aaron Jackson and Brendan Maclean headline the fifth annual 'Night Of A Thousand Judys' - presented by The Meeting* hosted by Justin Sayre - tonight, June 1.

Brendan Maclean - the acclaimed Australian singer/songwriter - will join Michael Feinstein, Melissa Errico, Liz Callaway, The Skivvies, Michael McElroy, Lauren Worsham, Cyrille Aimee, Rachel York, Adam Kantor, Randy Graff, Kim David Smith, Danielle Grabianowski, Jonah Verdon, Julie Hill, Molly Pope, Josh Sharp and Aaron Jackson to headline the fifth annual 'Night Of A Thousand Judys' - presented by The Meeting* hosted by Justin Sayre - on Monday, June 1.

Michael Feinstein, Molly Pope, John Early and Jonah Verdon will join the previously announced headliners Melissa Errico, Liz Callaway, The Skivvies, Michael McElroy, Lauren Worsham, Cyrille Aimee, Rachel  York, Adam Kantor, Randy Graff, Kim David Smith, Danielle Grabianowski, Julie Hill, Josh Sharp and Aaron Jackson to headline the fifth annual "Night Of A Thousand Judys" - presented by The Meeting* hosted by Justin Sayre - on Monday, June 1. The Pride concert to benefit The Ali Forney Center will take place at Merkin Concert Hall at the Kaufman Center (129 West 67th Street in Manhattan). Called "a rambunctious, uproarious, unpredictable all-star concert" by The Wall Street Journal, "Night Of A Thousand Judys" will honor the iconic Judy Garland with special skits, tributes and songs from her legendary career as movie star, recording artist and stage performer. There will be a pre-show VIP reception at 6:30 PM and the performance at 8:00 PM.

The Skivvies, Cyrille Aimee, Adam Kantor, Julie Hill, Josh Sharp and Aaron Jackson will join the previously announced headliners Melissa Errico, Liz Callaway, Michael McElroy, Lauren Worsham, Rachel  York, Randy Graff, Kim David Smith and Danielle Grabianowski for the fifth annual "Night Of A Thousand Judys" - presented by The Meeting* hosted by Justin Sayre - on Monday, June 1. The Pride concert to benefit The Ali Forney Center will take place at Merkin Concert Hall at the Kaufman Center (129 West 67th Street in Manhattan). Called "a rambunctious, uproarious, unpredictable all-star concert" by The Wall Street Journal, "Night Of A Thousand Judys" will honor the iconic Judy Garland with special skits, tributes and songs from her legendary career as movie star, recording artist and stage performer. There will be a pre-show VIP reception at 6:30 PM and the performance at 8:00 PM.

The Meeting* hosted by Justin Sayre, the acclaimed comedy/variety show, will return to JOE'S PUB at The Public Theater on Sunday, May 17 at 9:30 PM to conclude the Spring 2015 Season. The Meeting* has been called 'delicious and delightfully droll' by The New York Post and 'hilarious and sardonic' by The Village Voice. A story for Slate.com called the evening 'so deliciously icy that it left me shivering with fear and delight.' The Fall 2014 shows sold out after a New York Times 'Arts & Leisure' piece ran last September. The May show will be a celebration of The Scissor Sisters with special guests Amber Martin, Edgar Oliver, Tammy Faye Starlight, Michael Cavadias, Bridget Barkan, Jamie Wright, Angela DiCarlo, Philip Taratula and Brendan Michael. David Nagler serves as the show's Music Director.

Michael McElroy (TONY nomination, BIG RIVER) and The Broadway Inspirational Voices and Salem Missionary Baptist Church are teaming up for a Spring Concert Sunday May 31st 7:30pm. The concert will raise funds for the T.J. Boyd Scholarship Foundation.  Salem is the home church of Tony award winner and BIV veteran Adriane Lennox (DOUBT, After Midnight).  The concert is titled "Miracles" and in true BIV fashion, aims to lift and inspire though song using an array of gospel music.

The Meeting* hosted by Justin Sayre, the acclaimed comedy/variety show, will return to JOE'S PUB at The Public Theater on Sunday, April 19 at 9:30 PM to continue the Winter/Spring 2015 Season.

On April 12th, 2015, Tony Nominee Michael McElroy (Rent, Big River), Broadway's Caissie Levy (Ghost, Les Miserables), Derek Klena (Dogfight, Wicked), and Eden Espinosa (RENT, Wicked) will perform in Raise Your Voice: A Cabaret For A Cure, a benefit concert to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Conceived and directed by Rob Morean, a Sophomore at Tisch School of the Arts in the Department of Drama's New Studio on Broadway, and inspired by his recent battle and win against Hodgkin's Lymphoma, all proceeds from the cabaret will be donated directly to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.